Personal floatation device

ABSTRACT

A personal floatation device comprises a wide buoyant collar hinged to a thoracic float. The collar has a front portion projecting forwardly under the chin of the wearer to cooperate with the thoracic float to limit forward tilting movements of the wearer&#39;s head. The hinge between the collar and the thoracic floater provides for the combination of the buoyancy of the collar and the thoracic float when a wearer fall face down in the water. The juxtaposition of the collar and the thoracic float contributes to rapidly pivot the wearer&#39;s head out of the water. A buoyant flap is articulated to a rear end of the collar so as to be only responsive to backward movements of the wearer&#39;s upper body.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. application Ser. No.09/518,168 filed on Mar. 2, 2000, abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to a personal floatation device whichis particularly adapted for use by persons with disabilities.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Over the years various life vests or personal floatation devices havebeen developed for keeping a wearer afloat in a body of water.

For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 3,903,555 issued on Sep. 9, 1975 to Busbyand U.S. Pat. No. 4,038,713 issued on Aug. 2, 1977 to O'Link bothdisclose a personal floatation device comprising a front floatationmember and a buoyant collar. The collar comprises front and rear collarsections pivotally secured to each other on an axis extendingdiametrically of a neck receiving opening defined in the collar.

Although the devices described in the abovementioned patent areeffective, it has been found that there is a need for a new personalfloatation device particularly adapted for use by non-autonomous personsor person that are loosing their autonomy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide a personalfloatation device which is adapted to stabilize a person in a body ofwater.

It is also an aim of the present invention to provide a personalfloatation device which is particularly adapted for use by handicappedindividuals.

It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a personalfloatation device which is adapted to urge the wearer into a generallystable face up position.

It is a still further aim of the present invention to provide such apersonal floatation device which is comfortable to wear while in thewater.

Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided apersonal floatation device comprising a front floatation member adaptedto generally overlay a wearer's chest region, a collar floatation memberadapted to at least partly surround a neck region of the wearer, saidcollar floatation member being articulated to said front floatationmember for relative movement with respect thereto between a firstposition wherein a front portion of said collar floatation member andsaid front floatation member are at least partly in juxtaposition so asto work in tandem to make use of the combined floatation capacitythereof, and a second position wherein said collar floatation memberextends at an angle relative to said front floatation member to safelymaintain the head of the wearer substantially above water, and a harnessfor attaching said front floatation member and said collar floatationmember on the wearer's body.

In accordance with a further general aspect of the present invention,there is provided a personal floatation device comprising a collarfloatation member adapted to be worn at a neck region of a wearer toprovide buoyant support, a front floatation member adapted to be worn ata chest region of the wearer, said front floatation device having rightand left sides, said left side having a different buoyancy than that ofsaid right side to create a controlled imbalance so as to turn anunconscious wearer from a face down position to a face up position inwhich the wearer floats on his back with the head thereof lying on thecollar floatation member above water.

In accordance with a further general aspect of the present invention,there is provided a personal floatation device comprising a head supportmember made of a buoyant material for supporting a wearer head abovewater, said head support member having a rear section adapted to extendrearwardly of the nape of the wearer's neck, and a buoyant flap movablymounted to a distal end portion of said rear section so as to normallyfloat freely on the water while still being responsive to backwardmovements of the wearer's head and upper body for cooperating with saidrear section in supporting the head of the wearer above water.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, referencewill now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way ofillustration a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a personal floatation device comprisinga collar floatation member and a thoracic floatation member inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the personal floatation device wornby a person, illustrating the normal position of the collar floatationmember relative to the thoracic floatation member to buoyantly supportthe wearer in a body of water;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view illustrating how the collar floatationmember cooperates with the thoracic floatation member to prevent thehead of the wearer from falling forward into a water body; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view illustrating a flap provided at a rearend of the collar floatation member in an operative position thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Now referring to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, a personalfloatation device embodying the elements of the present invention andgenerally designated by the numeral 10 will be described. As will beseen hereinafter, the personal floatation device 10 is particularlyadapted for use by persons with disabilities, such as lost of mobility,in order to provide adequate floating support and stability when thewearer is in a body of water.

More specifically, the personal floatation device 10 generally comprisesa wide or oversized collar floatation member 12 for completelysurrounding a wearers' neck and overlaying the shoulder thereof, and athoracic floatation member 14 for covering the wearer's chest. Thecollar floatation member 12 is hingedly connected to an upper endportion of the thoracic floatation member 14 by means of a pair ofsturdy fabric strips (not shown). Each strip can be sewn at a first endthereof to an undersurface of the collar floatation member 12 and at asecond opposed end thereof to a front surface of the thoracic floatationmember 14. However, it is noted that the so formed hinge can be placedin front or at the back of the thoracic floatation member 14. This doesnot affect the combined reverting capability of the collar floatationmember 12 and the thoracic floatation member 14.

The articulation between the collar floatation member 12 and thethoracic floatation member 14 provides for the juxtaposition of aforwardly projection portion 16 of the collar floatation member 12 andthe thoracic floatation member 14. As seen in FIG. 3, this results inthe combination of the thickness of the forwardly projecting portion 16of the collar floatation member 12 and the thoracic floatation member 14under the chin of a wearer and at the level of the wearer's shoulders.This combination of thickness prevents the wearer's head from fallingforward into the water and double the buoyancy of the device. Indeed,the thoracic floatation member 14 acts as a front stopper for the collarfloatation member 12. Furthermore, in the event that the wearer's fallsface down in a body of water, the addition of thickness resulting fromthe juxtaposition of the forwardly projecting portion 16 of the collarfloatation member 12 and the thoracic floater 14 will provide increasedbuoyancy and, thus, contribute to rapidly pivot the wearer's headbackward out of the water. This aspect of the present invention is alsoadvantageous in that it allows for the utilization of a thinner thoracicfloatation member which contributes to afford increased freedom ofmovements for the wearer in the water. The principal purpose of thehinge between the collar floatation member 12 and the thoracicfloatation member 14 is to allow them to work in tandem to make use oftheir combined buoyant capacity without increasing the thickness of thethoracic floatation member 14. It is noted that by placing the hinge atthe rear of the thoracic floatation member 14 instead of at the frontthereof, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the moment arm is increased whichfurther contributes to prevent the wearer's head from falling forward.

As seen in FIG. 1, the collar floatation member 12 defines a centralopening 18 sized for receiving the neck of a wearer. A draw string 20runs into a first eyelet (not shown), through a draw string passage (notshown) extending about the central opening and then out a second eyelet(not shown). This arrangement provides for the adjustment of the size ofthe central opening 18. Indeed, this adjustment provides for a personaladjustment of the collar floatation member 12 to various morphologies.It also helps to maintain the face of the wearer out of the water. Theforwardly projecting portion 16 of the collar floatation member 12 issplit in first and second adjacent end portions 22 and 24 adapted to bespread apart for allowing the collar floatation member 12 to be easilyfitted about the wearer's neck. The draw string 20 allows to readilysecure the end portions 22 and 24 together about the wearer's neck. Apair of flexible straps 26 equipped with adjustable cooperatingfasteners 28, such as buckles, are stitched or otherwise secured torespective first and second end portions 22 and 24 for furtherreleasably securing the collar floatation member 12 in a closed discconfiguration about the wearer's neck.

The collar floatation member 12 is sized and dimensioned so as to extendforwardly, rearwardly and laterally of the wearer to a distancesufficient to provide enhance stability to the wearer while in thewater. The wide collar floatation member 12 or oversized head cushion isdesigned to resist to involuntary contortions or to reflexes ofepileptic or spastic persons. It is designed to resist to the force of abackward movement of the head, and to fetal position that lends torotate the body sideways. Furthermore, the collar floatation member 12by its configuration prevents water from getting into the eyes of thewearer, thus, increasing the safety feeling.

The collar floatation member 12 and the thoracic floatation member 14are each preferably made from two layers of textile fabric, such asnylon, or other suitable material, with a layer of buoyant material,such as closed-cell foam plastics, sandwiched therebetween. Theclosed-cell foam can be provided in block or in the form of superposedstrips. The fabric material covering the buoyant material is optional.

As shown in FIG. 1, the collar floatation member 12 includes twoseparate pieces of buoyant material, i.e. a main piece and a secondarypiece, enclosed in a same envelope of fabric material so as to form amovable flap 30 at a rear end portion of the main buoyant piece of thecollar floatation member 12. Alternatively, in the case where the twoseparate pieces are not covered by a fabric material, they could bepivotally connected by a strip of flexible material. The flap 30 ishinged to the main buoyant piece of the collar floatation member 12 onan axis 32 that extends transversely of the collar. While the wearer isassuming a generally upstanding position in the water, as illustrated inFIG. 2, the flap 30 floats freely on the water, thereby preventing thetransmission of stresses to the nape of the wearer's neck. However, ifthe wearer arches his back or tilts back his head (see FIG. 4), the flap30 becomes effective and cooperates with the portion of the main buoyantpiece extending rearwardly of the neck of the wearer to oppose suchmovements and buoyantly support the wearer's head above water. As seenin FIG. 4, when a pressure is exerted on the flap 30 by the wearer'shead, the flap 30 pivots upwardly about the axis 32 to counteract thebackward movement of the wearer's head. If the flap 30 was not movable,it would result in stresses being transmitted to the back of thewearer's neck, which would, in turn, incites the wearer to tilt his/herhead backward. By dividing the rear portion of the collar floatationmember 12 in two parts, the tension at the level of the nape of the neckis virtually eliminated. Without tension at that point, the head willlie horizontally, thus increasing the floatation level of the lowerbody. The flap 30 is also intended to prevent the level of water fromreaching the arch of the eyebrows of the wearer.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the portion of the collar floatation member 12located forwardly of the point of attachment of the thoracic floatationmember 14 to the collar floatation member 12 is thicker than theremaining portion thereof. This increased thickness provides a lever armfor pivoting the head of a wearer from the position illustrated in FIG.3 to the position illustrated in FIG. 2, while the wearer is in thewater.

As shown in FIG. 1, the thoracic floatation member 14 includes aright-hand buoyant member 34 and a left-hand buoyant member 36interconnected to each other at 38 and at respective upper ends thereofvia the collar floatation member 12. The thickness of each buoyantmember 34/36 gradually decreases towards a lower end thereof. Accordingto an aspect of the present invention, the thickness of buoyant materialof the right and left buoyant members 34 and 36 is different so as tocreate a controlled imbalance in order to rapidly revert an unconsciouswearer from a face down position to a face up position in which theunconscious wearer lies on his back with his/her face kept out of thewater by the collar floatation member 12. In a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, the right buoyant member 34 has more buoyantmaterial than the left buoyant 36, thereby facilitating the pivot of thewearer about the longitudinal axis of his/her body.

The shape and the configuration of the buoyant members 34 and 36establish the center of gravity of the floating line higher than thecenter of gravity of the wearer.

As shown in FIG. 4, the collar floatation member 12 provides a restingsurface against which the back of the head of the wearer can rest nearthe level of water, thereby improving the level of floatation of thelower portion of the wearer's body and the comfort of the wearer. Thethoracic floatation member 14 also permits to the wearer's body to stayclose to the surface of the water body, which favors an upstandingposition. By so biasing the wearer's body to an upstanding position, thesupport afforded by the body of water itself is increased so that thewearer's body is essentially supported by the water and stabilized bythe device 10. This advantageously improves the comfort of the wearer inthe water.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the personal floatation device 10 furtherincludes a strap assembly or harness 40 for releasably attaching thethoracic floatation member 14 and, thus, the collar floatation member 12to the wearer's body.

The strap assembly 40 includes a waist belt 42 secured at 44 to a sideof the left buoyant member 36. The buoyant members 34 and 36 have alength such that the waist belt 42 remains at the small of the back. Thewaist belt 42 extends through a belt loop 46 secured to the rightbuoyant member 34 and then through a belt receiving passage 48 definedalong the upper edge of a support triangle 50 made of fabric material,such as nylon. The belt loop 46 stabilizes the waist belt 42. Theopposed ends of the waist belt 42 are provided with adjustablecooperating fasting, such as buckles, for releasably securing thethoracic floatation member to the upper body portion of persons ofdifferent sizes. As seen in FIG. 1, the fastening of the waist belt 42is off-centered relative to a median axis of the device 10. Theoff-centered fastening, positioned on one side of the device 10, holdsthe waist belt firmly in place to adequately and constantly support thewearer and that even if violent and sudden movements occur.

A pair of groin straps 52 extends from the support triangle 50 torespective front surfaces of the right and left floats 34 and 36. Eachstrap 52 hooks to loop 54 secured to the associated buoyant members34/36. When adding the waist belt 42 to the groin straps 52, a betterhorizontal position on the water is achieved. This eliminates stress andstrain on the back, the neck and the skin in contact with the straps 52.

The support triangle 50 substitutes for the strap 52 placed at thegroin. It is the perfect complement to provide an efficient support forthe lower back. It helps to evenly distribute the tensions at thebuttock level and to maintain the personal floatation device 10 welladjusted on the user. It also helps to maintain a good support of thelower part of the body of the wearer in a horizontal position. Finally,it is highly recommended for people with a strong scoliosis or wearingdiapers.

Optionally, as illustrated in FIG. 2, a series of similar ballastweights 55 can be distributed along the upper edge of the supporttriangle 50 to favor rapid righting of the wearer by maintaining thelower portion of the wearer's body under the water level. When thepersonal floatation device 10 is used without the support triangle 50,the ballast weights 55 can be installed at the lower end of the thoracicfloatation member 14. This also favors rapid raising of the wearer'shead.

The personal floatation device 10 pushes back the capsizing limits of aperson, thus rendering it extremely safe.

Finally, it is contemplated to integrate the thoracic floatation member14 into a vest.

What is claimed is:
 1. A personal floatation device comprising a frontfloatation member adapted to generally overlay a wearer's chest region,a collar floatation member adapted to at least partly surround a neckregion of the wearer, said collar floatation member being articulated tosaid front floatation member for relative movement with respect theretobetween a first position wherein a front portion of said collarfloatation member and said front floatation member work in tandem tomake use of the combined floatation capacity thereof, and a secondposition wherein said collar floatation member extends at an anglerelative to said front floatation member to safely maintain the head ofthe wearer substantially above water, and a harness for attaching saidfront floatation member and said collar floatation member on thewearer's body, wherein said collar floatation member is seated on top ofsaid front floatation member with said front portion projectingforwardly of said front floatation member, said front floatation memberacting as a stopper to prevent said collar floatation member fromcollapsing against a front surface of said front floatation member.
 2. Apersonal floatation device as defined in claim 1, wherein said collarfloatation member is hinged to said front floatation member for pivotalmovement about a pivot axis transversal to said collar floatationmember.
 3. A personal floatation device as defined in claim 1, whereinsaid front portion of said collar floatation member projects forwardlyof said pivot axis.
 4. A personal floatation device as defined in claim2, wherein said collar floatation member has a thickness, and whereinsaid thickness increases forwardly of said pivot axis.
 5. A personalfloatation device as defined in claim 2, wherein said floatation devicedefines a neck receiving opening, said neck receiving opening extendingrearwardly of said pivot axis.
 6. A personal floatation device asdefined in claim 1, wherein said collar floatation member has a rearportion adapted to extend rearwardly of the nape of the wearer's neck,and a buoyant flap movably mounted to a distal end portion of said rearportion so as to normally float freely on the water while still beingresponsive to backward movements of the wearer's head and upper body forcooperating with said rear portion in supporting the head of the wearerout of the water.
 7. A personal floatation device as defined in claim 6,wherein said f lap and said rear portion are articulated to one another.8. A personal floatation device as defined in claim 7, wherein said flapand said rear portion are made of separate pieces of buoyant materialsandwiched between two interconnected layers of flexible fabricmaterial.
 9. A personal floatation device as defined in claim 7, whereinsaid flap and said rear portion are made of two separate pieces ofbuoyant material received in a same envelope.
 10. A personal floatationdevice as defined in claim 1, wherein said front floatation memberincludes right and left thoracic floats, said thoracic floats having adifferent buoyancy so as to create a controlled imbalance to rapidlyturn the wearer's about a longitudinal axis thereof from a face downposition to a face up position in which the wearer lies on his/her back.11. A personal floatation device as defined in claim 1, wherein saidharness includes a waist belt with off-centered buckles positioned at aside of the front floatation member at a distance from a median axis ofthe front floatation member.
 12. A personal floatation device as definedin claim 1, wherein said harness includes a waist belt, a back supportadapted to overlay a lower back region of the wearer, said waist beltconnecting said front floatation member to said back support, and a pairof groin straps adapted to extend between the legs of the wearer fromsaid front floatation member to said back support.
 13. A personalfloatation device as defined in claim 12 wherein said back support isformed of a triangular piece of fabric material.
 14. A personalfloatation device comprising a front floatation member adapted togenerally overlay a wearer's chest region, a collar floatation memberadapted to at least partly surround a neck region of the wearer, saidcollar floatation member being articulated to said front floatationmember for relative movement with respect thereto. wherein said collarfloatation member has a rear portion adapted to extend rearwardly of thenape of the wearer's neck, and a buoyant flap movably mounted to adistal end portion of said rear portion so as to normally float freelyon the water while still being responsive to backward movements of thewearer's head and upper body for cooperating with said rear portion insupporting the head of the wearer out of the water, and a harness forattaching said front floatation member and said collar floatation memberon the wearer's body.
 15. A personal floatation device as defined inclaim 14, wherein said flap and said rear portion are articulated to oneanother.
 16. A personal floatation device as defined in claim 15,wherein said flap and said rear portion are made of separate pieces ofbuoyant material sandwiched between two interconnected layers offlexible fabric material.
 17. A personal floatation device as defined inclaim 15, wherein said flap and said rcar portion are made of twoseparate pieces of buoyant material received in a same envelope.
 18. Apersonal floatation device as defined in claim 14, wherein an attachmentassembly is provided for releasably attaching said collar floatationmember about the neck of the wearer.
 19. A personal floatation devicecomprising a front floatation member adapted to generally overlay awearer's chest region, a collar floatation member adapted to at leastpartly surround a neck region of the wearer, said collar floatationmember being articulated to said front floatation member for relativemovement with respect thereto between a first position wherein a frontportion of said collar floatation member and said front floatationmember are at least partly superposed one over the other so as to workin tandem to make use of the combined floatation capacity thereof, and asecond position wherein said collar floatation member extends at anangle relative to said front floatation member to safely maintain thehead of the wearer substantially above water, and a harness forattaching said front floatation member and said collar floatation memberon the wearer's body, wherein said harness includes a waist belt, a backsupport adapted to overlay a lower back region of the wearer, said waistbelt connecting said front floatation member to said back support, and apair of groin straps adapted to extend between the legs of the wearerfrom said front floatation member to said back support.
 20. A personalfloatation device as defined in claim 19 wherein said back support isformed of a triangular piece of fabric material.